On Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:32:10 -0800 Ben Calvert <b...@flyingwalrus.net> wrote:
> > On Jan 25, 2010, at 11:20 AM, J.C. Roberts wrote: > > > On Sun, 24 Jan 2010 23:34:08 -0500 nixlists <nixmli...@gmail.com> > > wrote: > > > >>>> > > > > There is no certainty. > > There is only belief. > > Tracing this discussion back to it's origins earlier this month, I > see the problem as arising from a statement made by a Mathematician > (DJB) about the infallibility of his software when used with certain > filesystems. > > It is understandable for someone from a theoretical field (math) to > assume that there exists such a thing as certainty in real life... > but unacceptable in a software engineer. This kind of magical/deluded > thinking is what makes his software undesirable. > > the unnamed individual (with such great faith in his mail system that > he uses gmail to correspond with us) is actually performing the > valuable function of helping me compose interview questions to weed > out undesirable job applicants, so let's try to keep this thread > going as long as possible. > DJB does great work and thinks about his code. Like every great programmer, DJB wants his code to be as "correct" as possible within the very well known bounding limitations (hardware, compilers, operating systems, file system code, and so forth). Though he knows the limitations better than most, his writings intend to *CONVINCE* you of the correctness of *his* code and methods (within said bounds), so he doesn't elaborate on the supposedly "known" limitations and he expects you to already understand them. Constantly bringing up all the limitations where things fail detracts from the intent to convince you of correctness. Though some consider not elaborating on the limitations as being incomplete or unfair, not mentioning them is actually a great application of rhetoric and serves his purpose very well. If you don't already know the limitations, then you'll get the false impression of him claiming infallibility, and you'll be very easily convinced. Sadly, this happens very often with his writings because he expects the reader to have a clue and a critical mind.
